As I observed these incidents and the men engaged in public affairs, the laws
too and the customs, the more closely I examined them and the farther I
advanced in life, the more difficult it seemed to me to handle public affairs
aright. For it was not possible to be active in politics without friends and
trustworthy supporters; and to find these ready to my hand was not an easy
matter, since public affairs at Athens were not carried on in accordance with
the manners and practices of our fathers; nor was there any ready method by
which I could make new friends. The laws too, written and unwritten, were
being altered for the worse, and the evil was growing with startling rapidity.
The result was that, though at first I had been full of a strong impulse
towards political life, as I looked at the course of affairs and saw them
being swept in all directions by contending currents, my head finally began to
swim; and, though I did not stop looking to see if there was any likelihood of
improvement in these symptoms and in the general course of public life, I
postponed action till a suitable opportunity should arise. Finally, it became
clear to me, with regard to all existing cornmunities, that they were one and
all misgoverned. For their laws have got into a state that is almost
incurable, except by some extraordinary reform with good luck to support it.
And I was forced to say, when praising true philosophy that it is by this that
men are enabled to see what justice in public and private life really is.
Therefore, I said, there will be no cessation of evils for the sons of men,
till either those who are pursuing a right and true philosophy receive
sovereign power in the States, or those in power in the States by some
dispensation of providence become true philosophers.